Update: The Hays County Sheriff’s Office says it was following county ordinance when it euthanized two dogs that had killed a man’s chickens in Wimberley.
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News release: The Hays County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that both dogs involved in the killing of 12 chickens at a Wimberley home on February 9, were humanely euthanized late yesterday evening. One of the dogs, a black Labrador, was abandoned by a renter who lived next to the owners of the second dog, a yellow Pit Bull cross Labrador.
The owner of the yellow mix, Scott Pate said that he understood what needed to be done and released the dog to the officers so that the dog could be humanely euthanized after the incident. Mr Pate revealed to the Animal Control Officer that he was relieved that the animal would be taken because of a previous case in which the yellow mix had attacked their pet dachshund.
Lieutenant Dennis Gutierrez, who supervises the Animal Control Division, stated that the Sheriff’s Office was following standard operating procedures and that there was no bias in this case. The County Animal Control Ordinance is followed to ensure the safety of the community as well as livestock and other domestic animals. The Hays County Animal Control Ordinance Section 10.1(d) reads that
“the owner of a dog that is known to have attacked sheep, goats, calves, or other domestic animals or fowls shall kill the dog. A Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff, constable, police officer or magistrate may enter the premises of the owner of the dog if the owner fails to do so”.
ACO officers took custody of both animals and transported them to the San Marcos Animal Shelter for euthanasia. Should this ordinance be revised or otherwise amended, the Sheriff’s Office will enforce this ordinance as they do other State and Federal laws.
Several Hays Free Press commenters are arguing the dogs should not have been euthanized.
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